Punch card



July 24, 1962 G. J. TARASUK PUNCH CARD Filed May 21, 1959 mi', Y@

3,045,965 Fatenteci July 24, 1962 ice 3,045,905 PUNCH CARD George J.Tarasuk, 3454 Caniff, Hamtramck 12, Mich. Filed May 2l, 1959, Ser. No.814,815 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S-61.12)

This invention relates to data processing and particularly to a punchcard of the type adapted to serve as a data storage medium.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a punch card havinga pre-punched hole therein located outside of the field adapted to bepunched by a card user and in a position denoting an instantlyrecognizable physical characteristic of the card whereby a group of suchcards may be sorted by sensing the location of said hole and theaccuracy of the sorting operation verified by observation of thephysical characteristics of the cards.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a punch cardhaving a pre-established marginal punch in a location corresponding tothe color of the card, whereby a group of cards may be sorted by sensingof the margin and the sorted cards checked for color to corroborate theaccuracy of the sort.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a punch cardhavin-g means for the sorting thereof which does not interfere withpre-established informational programs occupying the field normallyavailable for punching in a given card system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a punchcard of the above character having additional means for being sortedwhich may be utilized on existing sorting machines with only minor andeasily made adjustment of such machines.

It is another object .of the present invention to provide means forverifying the accuracy of a sorting operation which eliminates thenecessity for visually sighting through aligned punch holes in a stackof cards or threading a needle through the aligned holes in a stack ofcards but in which the verification of the sorting operation anddetection of improper cards may be made instantly upon observation of astack of cards.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a punch card illustrating one form of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a view of a punch card illustrating another form of thepresent invention.

The standard punch card consists of a rectangular sheet of heavy paperhaving opposite lateral margins and top and bottom margins, all locatedon the opposite sides of what is known as the field The field comprisesan area within the card which is divided into a series of verticalcolumns each having vertically spaced numbered locations therein adaptedto be sensed by the machines with which the cards are used to detect thepresence of holes in such locations. In one punch card system currentlyin use, the card is divided into eighty vertical columns with eachcolumn extending from the top to the bottom margin of the card and thereare twelve locations within each column adapted to be punched. Thissystem is referred to as an eightly field card and the cards illustratedin FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings are of this type. However, in anotherpopular system, the card is divided in half across its horizontalmid-line and the upper half of the field contains forty-five verticalcolumns and the bottom half of the card contains an additional fortyfivecolumns, for a total of ninety columns. While the present invention isillustrated in the form of an eighty field punch card, the invention isequally applicable to any card system having a distinct field adapted tobe punched and a marginal portion outside said field.

While a card user may establish any desired code by which the presenceof a hole or holes in particular loca tions in each of the columns isgiven a particular meaning, certain conventions are frequently followed.For example, in one system, the presence of a hole in a given one of tenlocations in a column indicates numbers from zero to nine. The presenceof holes in particular combinations of locations represents the variousletters of the alphabet or mathematical or other printed symbols.

In normal practice, cards are supplied to the users by the manufacturerin an unpunched condition and the user punches the cards in the desiredlocations by means of a card punching machine. The card thus becomes apermanent record of the information punched thereon. In addition, there|generally is a space available on the card for printing in which thesubject matter, name or heading of the information stored on the cardmay be placed. The card may thereafter be used in conjunction with manyother cards in the operation of computing machines, tabulating machines,printing machines or other machines for the performance of a widevariety of accounting, reporting, computing, billing or other functions.

There exist many machines which function only in the handling of thecards themselves. Examples of such machines are sorters, collators andveriers. A sorter is a machine capable of rapidly scanning a givencolumn of each one of a group of cards and sorting the cards intoseparate groups according to the punched information in that column. Forexample, in one sorter for use with cards having twelve punchablelocations in each column, the sorted cards are distributed into one ofthirteen different pockets; a separate pocket for each card having apunch in one of the twelve possible locations and a pocket for cardshaving no punch in the selected column, Such machines are built to scaneach of the columns which make up the field of the card. In operation,the card is held against the electrically conductive surface of arotating drum. When a given column is to be sensed, an electricallyconductive brush is held against the card in alignment with the selectedcolumn and the brush moves over all locations on the column with therotation of the card. A potential exists between the drum and the brushbut the card serves as an insulator to prevent the passage of currenttherebetween. However, when a punch or hole comes into alignment withthe brush, a circuit is completed between the brush and drum. Thelocation of the hole is determined by the angular position of the drumat the instant the circuit is established. Hence, the location of eachhole is electrically sensed by the sorting machine. According to thepresent invention, each punch card is provided with a predeterminedlylocated punch hole outside of the normal field adapted to be punched bythe user but in a location which may be sensed by a sorting machine tosort the cards according to a readily identiable physical characteristicthereof, thus permitting instantaneous observation of such physicalcharacteristics for verifying the accuracy of the sorting operation.

FIGURE l illustrates one form of the present invention in which agenerally rectangular punch card 11 is made of the customary heavy papermaterial. The card is of a uniform, solid color, as, `for example, blue.The upper left-hand corner of the card is angularly cut off, asindicated at 13. which is a standard practice to facilitate the handlingof the card and forms no part of the present invention. There is printedon the card a series of vertical columns 15 comprising numbers from zeroto nine. In the type of card illustrated, these columns total in numberand each is identified by a number at the bottom of the column, saidnumbers forming a horizontal row 17 across the bottom of all of thecolumns. The like numbers of each column are aligned in horizontal rows19. Although not printed on the card, the space immediately above thetop row 19 is included within what is normally termed the field 21, thatis, the area on the card which is adapted to be punched by the carduser. The unprinted portion of the card immediately above the top row 19is of suiicient size to accommodate two additional rows and the locationof each is indicated at 19a. In one conventional code system, one or theother of the rows 19a is punched in a given column along with one of therows 19 in the column to indicate certain of the letters of thealphabet. The field thus occupies the area of the card defined by therows 19 and 19a, as well as by the columns 15. The field 21 is boundedon its several sides by a top margin 23, a bottom margin 25 and oppositeside or lateral margins 27 and 29. The top margin 23 is considerablywider than the other margins, in order to permit printing on the upperpart thereof, if it is desired, to provide the card with a visuallyreadable title or heading. The opposite lateral or side margins 27 and29 are of a width slightly greater than the width of the columns andserve to provide means for holding the card during handling orprocessing in certain of the machines.

The present invention comprehends the use of one or more of the marginalportions of the card as an additional data storage media. I havediscovered that with minor modifications presently available commercialsorting machines can be made capable of scanning or sensing the lateralmargins 27 and 29. Such modificati-on only involves the substitution ofdifferent brush units for those normally intended to cover the number 1and 2 columns (for scanning the margin or for the number 79 or 80columns (for scanning the margin 29). The substituted brushes areprovided with angled or bent Shanks or supporting portions so that thehead of the brush is posi-i tioned in the desired location in themargin. Such substitution may be made with a minimum of diiculty onpresently available sorting machines and would involve only the minorexpenses of having available substitute brushes for use when it isdesired to scan or sense the margins.

In recognition of the above discovery, I have provided one or more punchholes in one of the lateral margins, such as the punch hole 31 in themargin 27. The punch hole 31 is predeterminedly located according to anestablished system to indicate a phyical characteristic of the card,such as its color. Thus, in the card illustrated, the presence of themarginal punch 31 in the number 7 row would indicates the assumed bluecolor of the card. According to any desired system, the presence of themarginal hole 31 in other horizontal rows 19 would indicate variousother colors. It is my intention that cards made in accordance with thepresent invention would be supplied to card users in a variety of colorswith a preestabilshed marginal punch hole 31 located in a positionindicative of the color of the card. Thus, all blue cards supplied to auser would have a marginal punch 31 in the number 7 row; all pink cardswould have a prepunched hole in the number 5 row, etc. By this means,the field 21 normally adapted to be punched by the user is in no wayinterfered with and card users will not have to interrupt or discontinuepreviously established programs or systems in order to avail themselvesof the present invention.

The system of which the individual cards of the present invention form apart may be used in a variety of situations in order to identify cardsof a given type or sub-class but which are normally grouped under adifferent or separate major class. For example, in personnel recordswhere a number of separate cards are maintained to record differentcategories of information about each employee, a dilierent colored cardcould be utilized for payroll deductions, hours worked, master personnelcard, etc. When it is desired to sort out all hours worked7 cards, thiscould be done in a sorting machine by scanning the margin which has beenpunched. Inasmuch as all hours worked cards are of a given color, theaccuracy of the sort may then be determined at a glance, as all non-bluecards in the supposedly hours worked group would be readily apparent `bytheir contrasting color. Inasmuch as the marginal punch corresponding inlocation to the color of the card is made at the time of the cardsmanufacture, complete assurance exists that all cards of a given colorare punched and punched in the correct location, thereby avoiding errorson the part of individual punching machine operators in the employ ofthe card user. Inasmuch as twelve vertically spaced locations exist ineach marginal column which may be spaced, it will be readily apparentthat the color coded system of the present invention may be utilized toindicate cards representing information for each of the months of theyear. Similarly, different colored cards could be used for dilierentareas or territories in maintaining sales or other type ofigeographically divided records. It will thus be apparent that thesystem of the present invention is adaptable for use in any situationwhere it is desired to sort out cards of a given sub-class fromdifferent groups of cards in distinct main classiiications.

FIG. 2 illustrates another form of the present invention in which a card35 which is primarily of a given solid color (for example, green) isprovided with a top marginal strip 37 of a diiiering `color (such `asyellow). By this means, the readily identifiable physical characteristicof the card is defined not by one given solid color, but by twodifferent colors, each in a particular location on the card. Inaddition, another form of readily identifiable physical characteristicis provided on the card by means of a notch 39 cut out of the top margin37 and extending inwardly from its top edge 4t). Thus, the readilyidentifiable physical character of the card is dened by three separatemeans: the color of the main portion of the card, the color of the topmargin 37, and the horizontal position of the top marginal notch 39. Inorder to indicate the precise physical character of this card, one ofthe lateral margins 41 -of the card is provided with two marginal punchholes 43 and 45, which are located in each of the two available columnsin the margin 41 and, in addition, the opposite lateral margin 47 of thecard is provided with punch holes 49 and 51 in separate verticalcolumns. One of said marginal punch holes is adapted to indicate by itslocation the position of the notch 39. Thus, the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 2 illustrates that the card may be provided with a variety ofphysical characteristics which are visually `and instantaneouslyascertainable and which do not interfere with the field adapted to bepunched. In addition, FIG. 2 shows the use `of multiple marginal puncheswhich may be sensed by separate sorting operations and each of which iscorrelated to a separate physical characteristic of the card. Inchecking on the location of the notch 39, it is only necessary to sightdown the top of a stack of cards or to run the nger down the grooveformed by the aligned notches 51 in order to detect the presence of Iacard which is not notched in the correct location. While cards of agiven color are ordinarily made so that the color may be detected byobserving their edges when stacked in a large group (and thus permittingdetection of a dissimilarly colored card) if it occurs that the color ofthe strip 37 is printed on the card in a manner in which it does notappear on the edge of the card (such as the edge 4h), a deck or stack ofcards may be quickly fanned to detect a dissimilarly colored margin 37.

While the punch cards 13 and 35 have been illustrated as being providedwith printed numbers in ten out of the twelve punchable locations ineach row 15, it frequently occurs that such printing is omitted. .Undersuch circumstances, the card is generally provided With other indicia bymeans of which at least the lateral limits ot the eld are defined. Forexample, the numbers deiining the row 17 of the card 11 are oftenprinted on the card and thus indicate the horizontal position of eachrow 15. Additionally or alternatively, the card may have printed thereonopposite lateral margin lines such as the lines 51 on the card 35, whichare sho-wn as being connected by a bottom margin line 53. The marginlines 51 fdefine the lateral limits of the field adapted to be punchedby the card user and also indicate the width of the lateral margins 41and 47. Thus, the eld on a card may be indicated by -a variety ofindicia and is not to be considered as being limited to a printed numberin the punchable locations in the columns which make up the eld.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa system for visually and instantaneously verifying the accuracy of asorting operation. The system is established and built in to the cardsat the time of their manufacture, at which time the marginal punches maybe inexpensively formed under mass production methods and thepossibility of error is drastically reduced. The individual card user isthus provided with an additional means for the sorting of cards, isrelieved of the burden of having to punch the cards to establish thesub-class or group identity of each card, `and is assured of betterverification of the accuracy of sorting operations. Heretofore, in orderto verify the accuracy of a sorting operation, it has been necessary tohave a machine operator carefully stack a group of cards with theiredges in precise alignment, hold the stack of cards up to the light landsight through the aligned holes in the column from which the sort wasmade. If `an unpunched card obstructs the ability of the operator tosight through the cards, the cards had to be placed at rest in la stackand an elongated needle run through the aligned holes until theimproperly sorted card was reached. This process is an extremely tediousand time-consuming one. Frequently, when machine operators are tired `oroverworked, the accuracy of the sorting operation is left unverified,which can result in serious mistakes and the completely erroneousprocessing of a stack of cards.

While it will be -apparent that the preferred embodiments hereinillustrated are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, itwill be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modication,variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A punch card having a eld provided with a plurality of horizontalrows, each of said rows having spaced locations thereon adapted to beselectively punched by a card user, said card having a pair ofvertically extending margins on opposite sides of said eld adajacent theside edges of said card, `one of said margins having a prepnnched holetherein disposed in alignment with one of the horizontal rows of saidlfield, said one margin being unpunched in locations aligned with themajority of the other of said rows whereby said card may be sorted byelectrically sensing the particular row with which said hole is alignedand thereby segregated from cards which no not have marginal holes in alike location.

2. A punch card having a field provided with a plurality of horizontalrows, each of said rows having spaced locations thereon adapted to beselectively punched by a card user, said card having a pair ofvertically extending margins on opposite sides of said field adjacentthe side edges of said card, one of said margins having a pre-punchedhole therein disposed in `alignment 4with one of the horizontal rows ofsaid held, said one margin being unpunched in `a location disposed invertical alignment with said hole whereby said card may be sorted bysensing the particular row with which said hole iS aligned.

3. A set of punch cards, each of said punch cards having a fieldprovided with a plurality of horizontal rows, each of said rows havingspaced locations adapted to be selectively punched by a card user, eachof said cards having vertically extending margins on opposite sides ofsaid eld adjacent the side edges of the card, one of the margins of eachof said cards having a pre-punched hole therein disposed in alignmentwith one of the rows of the field thereof, said cards being divided intogroups with the cards of each group having the holes thereof disposed inlike locations which differ from the locations of the holes of each ofthe other groups whereby all of said cards may be sorted into theirrespective groups by sensing the location of the pre-punched marginalholes thereof.

4. The structure set forth in claim l in which the other vertical marginof said card is provided with at least one pre-punched hole therein inalignment with one of said horizontal rows which may also be sensedelectrically for sorting the card from other cards which do not have amarginal hole in a like location.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said card is providedwith a visually distinguishable indicating media other than said holeadjacent one margin thereof correlated to the location of said holewhereby the indicating media of a stack of said cards sorted by theelectrical sensing of the location of said hole may be observed toverify the accuracy of the sorting operation.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said card is providedwith a coloring adjacent at least one margin thereof correlated to thelocation of said hole whereby a stack of said cards sorted by thesensing of said hole may be visually observed to verify the accuracy ofthe sorting operation.

7. The structure set forth in claim l in which said card is providedwith a notch in another margin thereof extending inwardly from theadjacent edge of the card and correlated in location to the location ofsaid hole whereby a stack of said card sorted by the electricallysensing of said hole may be observed to verify the accuracy of the`sorting operation.

8. The structure set forth in claim 3 in which the cards of each groupare provided with a common visually distinguishable indicating mediaadjacent one edge thereof which is distinguishable from the indicatingmedia of the cards of the other groups whereby a stack of cards of anyone of said groups sorted by the electrical sensing of the said holesthereof may be visually observed to verify the accuracy of the sortingoperation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,247,899 Tallmadge Nov. 27, 1917 1,593,210 Elliott July 20, 19262,192,695 Rainey Mar. 5, 1940 2,310,445 Lang Feb. 9, 1943 2,342,517Nevin Feb. :22, 1944 2,848,163 Sorrell Aug. 19, 1958

